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Vivien is well known on the Sydney events scene as the owner of Australia in Style, a company which supplies unique transport solutions. Vivien volunteered as a stage hand for the opening ceremony and reports on her experience.
Rehearsal day 1
“No white trash here!!” These words are hurled by actress Rhoda Roberts to 100’s of Koori teenagers. They had come from all over NSW to attend the first rehearsal of the “Awakening”, the aboriginal segment for the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.
Gathered at an abandoned airfield on the outskirts of Sydney the school children had travelled for hours – 6 hours in the case of those coming from Coonabarabran – to attend the rehearsal.
Why were they being spoken to in this seemingly harsh aggressive way? One of the chaperones accompanying the children explains. All her students with any aboriginal heritage were invited to participate in the Awakening segment of the Opening Ceremony. Teenagers of all shapes and sizes are present, blond hair and blue eyes, freckles, dark skin, light skin, curly and straight hair made up this group.
The objective is to provide the opportunity for these young people to reconnect with their aboriginal heritage in most unique context.
“We are all one mob” is the message Rhoda yells out to her charges. It seems there are barriers to break down in all cultures.
In one corner of the vast airfield a replica of the field of play of the Stadium at Homebush is laid out. Props come in a large container – filled with colourful oversize fish heads and massive sea creatures.
Steven Page, choreographer of Bangarra Dance Theatre goes through the movements. After hours of travel from Gosford, Nowra & beyond, the children are tired and restless and do not willingly respond to Steven's instructions. He becomes frustrated – he starts to dismiss some of the kids from the dance – shaming them in front of their peers. Later I learn that they are reinstated, the public shame being an effective punishment.
Steven orders us to be bussed to a remote corner of the airfield, away from the other performers.
Here the teenagers sit in large circles, holding hands and connecting physically to each other and the earth. Steven berates them for their lack of respect, explains to them how important it is for them to perform with bodies low, hands clasped behind them as they affirm their connectedness with the earth and contain the spirit within them with their tightly clenched fits.
Interesting, but where do I fit in?
12 of us are then led off to meet with the fire brigade to be “fire trained” – this consists of handling an extinguisher with deftness and putting out a small fire. Having passed with flying colours, I henceforth wear a special sign “fire trained” whenever we rehearse.
2nd Rehearsal
The abandoned airfield is again our location – many faces are now familiar – Martin Hare, an event specialist; and Patrick Collins, a well known TV chef, and I greet each other like old friends.
There is John – a retired diplomat, and Ann who comes from Bathurst for each rehearsal.
We now learn of our roles in the “Awakening” segment of the Opening Ceremony. There will be aboriginal clans from all over Australia – Central desert woman, Arnhem Land clans, Torres Strait Islanders. It will be a rare occasion when so many different clans are together in one place.
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Arnhem Land clan ready to perform in the Opening Ceremony |
I am now referred to as “ a smoking drum assistant”. We are to ignite paper and fresh gum leaves in a 44 gallon drum, lift the lid to allow the smoke to billow out and cleanse the area. The stilt walkers will emerge like spirits through the smoke. The fresh gum leaves ensure the smoke is white, rather than black.
John, Anne, Dave and Heidi are “stilt walker assistants”. They are to lift the stilt walkers lying horizontal on the ground to a vertical position. They have trouble mastering this and must attend 3 additional rehearsals at Bankstown to work on it. Dave and Heidi are here as chaperones for their school groups.
Rehearsal 3 is at the stadium itself. We are herded to car park 1 – sheets of Hessian are strung up between pillars creating pens for the various groups within our segment to gather. One area is labelled “smoking drum assistant and stilt walker assistants”. This becomes a second home. Sheets of green plastic cover the cold concrete floor.
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Stilt walkers limbering up in the car park before being Spirits in the Opening Ceremony |
We rehearse in the stadium itself – awesome.
Our entry to the field of play is through an entry, referred to by stage management as a “vom” - what does it mean? I learned this is a term derived from roman gladiator days – when those entering the stadium knew they were likely never to exit. They used to vomit their hearts out, and so the entry to stadia is still known as a “vomitory” or “vom”.
Every rehearsal – we hurry up to wait.
Standing in the middle of the stadium, we talk of issues and developments of the aboriginal reconciliation movement for the last 20 years. Dave has been active for 30 years in land rights. He and I share stories of our student days when we both were separately involved in breaking down barriers erected by history and politics.
Heidi and Dave report that teachers of the aboriginal students are saying the aboriginal students seem to have become less disruptive in class.
The next rehearsal is 12 hours long. Arrive noon and leave midnight.
The Arnhem Land contingent has arrived, tall, lean and walking proudly - like cheetahs. Word is they have rehearsed well. Steven Page has told the Koori kids to lift their act, otherwise they will be shamed by the Arnhem Land group
The interstate group shows their routine and we all break out in spontaneous cheers and applause.
The spirit with which they dance, their clear commitment to the earth and to their movements is palpable.
The Koori clan rise to rehearse their segment. Now they are walking closer to the earth, clasping their hands tightly behind them, to contain the spirit of the earth.
Steven Page is happy. Rhoda has tears in her eyes.
12 hours pass. They continue to amend the choreography. We are cold and hungry. We do not light our drums.
Next rehearsal is again at the stadium. This is the one before the first of two full rehearsals in front of 100,000 people.
The Central Desert woman have now arrived, impressive with their slow, laidback gait – like lions. All ages, some old, walking with sticks, young girls with big, shy eyes, some averting their gaze as they come towards us. All look a little confused. We meet Peter England, who introduces himself as the designer of the segment. He explains he has been travelling to the outback since 1995 meeting the different clans in order to create an authentic segment. Talking to him, you sense his profound bond with the spirit of the aboriginal people. And he is a white fella.
Dave calls me over. ”Hey Viv”, he says. “Got something for ya. Me missus made them”. Out of a crumpled envelope he hands me a pair of earrings made from black yellow and red beads.
With this gesture, reconciliation has moved a step forward at the level of the common man.
Next rehearsal is before 95,000 family and friends. This is the first time we see the other segments of the Opening Ceremony. We all meet at central hubs around Sydney. I travel to Chatswood, checked for security and then wait to be bussed into the stadium.
The excitement in the carpark is palpable. We paint each others’ faces and hands. We all cheer each other out. We are one mob.
We arrive at the props section – check our drums. Each drum is filled with 3 copies of the Daily Telegraph and fresh gum leaves picked in the Hunter Valley by the local fire brigade.
We make our smoke, the spirits rise, we put the fires out with lots of water – but do not get our timing right – thank goodness we have more time.
Two more rehearsals. The choreography is changed again. Martin, Patrick and I are now a threesome, we go everywhere together. They are very cheeky. They call me their older sister.
The day of the Opening Ceremony arrives – all backstage management people are now like old friends too.
Many are volunteers – in real life interior designers, teachers etc.
The night is beautiful, the performers all rise to the occassion. We are happy.
After our segment, my drum will not stop smoking. On the sidelines of the field of play, I throw more water on, then throw in a fire blanket – it still keeps smoking. Rule is – the fire must be completely out before going back into the vom, otherwise smoke alarms ring and metal door crashes down. I must wait on the side of the field of play for the fire to go out. I stay there the rest of the Opening Ceremony, metres from the performers and feeling the excitement of each segment through every pore.
Finally the fire brigade comes out to take over. I can leave. Running through the bowels of the stadium to exit, the police stop me. Stay right there, the 10,000 athletes are about to make their entry into the stadium. I cannot believe it! I stand one metre from the athletes as they gather excitedly ready to enter the stadium – some are on their mobile phones talking to family, most cheer and dance as they wait to enter. Their youthfulness and energy is almost overwhelming.
All of us gathered at the entry to the stadium cheer each nation as they walk past – the smiles and cheers are returned – more barriers are broken at the level of the commo
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Herb Elliot prerares the torch for Betty Cuthbert |
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n man.
If you think the Olympics is only about greed and corruption…
If you think the Olympics is only about drugs and cheating…
Then you didn’t experience the Olympic Opening Ceremony from the bowels of the Stadium…
Herb Elliot brushes past me with the torch as he prepares if for Betty Cuthbert.
Andrew Gaze gives me a high five as he proudly carries the Australian flag high and prepares to go out into the field.
We rush outside to view the rest of the ceremony – the pride of being Australian is overwhelming.
It takes 3 hours to return home. I am elated and exhausted.
If I should die tomorrow, I know I have lived….
Vivien Reed
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